St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada – Aug to Oct 2011

 

We arrived at about midnight on the 22^nd August. Newfoundland is pronounced “Newfinland” by the locals. They are known as “Newfee’s”

 

My first introduction to one was the taxi driver, when he heard it was my first visit he took us on a quick tour of St. John’s, showed me the main street, George St (the pub crawl street) and the route to the hotel (nope no extra charge). After he set the tone of what “Newfee’s” are like I have not been disappointed. They are warm, friendly great people. Everyone greets you in the street and often stop to chat especially when they hear my accent. I am often told they “love my accent” haha I have never been told that before. I have to confess I cannot return the compliment; the Newfie accent is not pretty. J

 

It can be so difficult to understand them. I was in a Liquor store the other day and a man came up to me and this is what I heard: “D. y. ow  ..er. I .an ..nd.d. ..m.s .um? I was like “I beg your pardon?” He repeated it and I was still none the wiser. Then he looked over my shoulder and said “A…er. .t .s?” I was like, “you said what?” lol  Off he went and then he came back with a bottle and went on with his conversation with me. I was still, “I am sorry say that again”; and again; and again.. Finally I worked out his original question to me was “Do you know where I can find the Lambs Rum” hahaha and when he came back he was explaining to me that Lambs was the best rum you could buy. I was giggling all the way back to the hotel. They speak very, very fast and run the words into each other cutting off parts of them.

 

The other evening I was surprised with being “Screech-in’ed”. Andre and I went downtown for dinner then afterwards went to a pub, Christians” in George street.

 

This short street is populated mainly by bars and pubs and is open only to pedestrians in the evenings and during most of the business day, only being open to traffic from 8:00am until noon, to allow bars to restock their goods. George Street has the most bars and pubs per square foot of any street in North America. It is now only 2 blocks long having been cut from 6 blocks when they built the convention center, how rude!. There are currently 41 pubs in a street No I haven’t yet sampled all of them I cheated and checked on Google. J

 

I finally found out Andre had booked me to be “Screech-in’ed”! The “ceremony” consists of us being taught to speak “Newfie”. The “Schreecher” calls out typical Newfie sayings and we had to shout them back. We were then given Cod liver (no not oil) to eat, a tot of rum to down and had to kiss a fish. It was a laugh, my night there were about 50 people being screech-in’ed so they did it in groups instead of one on one, phew! When Andre had his done there were fewer people and they did it one at a time. He says every time they made a mistake they had to kiss the fish! The ceremony was held on the first floor of the pub and there must have been 150 people packed in there like sardines. So I am now and Honorary Newfoundlander. J

 

Some Newfie lingo I learned and their meanings:

"That townie was done up like a stick of gum" - the person was well dressed

"Goin out for a few swallies n scuffs" - going for a few drinks and dancing

"I'll get at that bumbye" - do something later on

"The nippers is tick tonight" - lots of mosquitoes around

"I put my sweater on the part before" - put my sweater on backwards

 

"Long may your big jib draw" - may the wind always be in your forward sails

"Dis punt is some cranky" - Small boat is too unstable

"Some rough out" - It's really stormy

"The bay is some loppy" - small waves on the water

"Go on home your mudder got lassy buns" - trying to get rid of someone

"Don't slip on dat slub" - careful not to slip on the watered down fish guts

"Can't see a hand before ya" - snowing really bad

"The fog is tic as pea soup" - it's really foggy out

"Put your vamps and stocking cap on" - put your wool socks and cap on

"Filled to the gunnels" - filled to capacity

 

 

St.John’s is really quaint; the wooden houses in contrasting colours are so pretty. As you walk down the hill toward town you feel like you are in a different era.

 

This is the place for walking; I have walked miles and miles since I have been here. From the hotel is there are parks and walks all over; from a short 20 min to a couple of hours. Most of them interlink so you can go straight from one to another. I usually leave at about 10.30 in the morning and get back between 3 and 5 pm.

 

I have gone geocaching just about every day. If André finishes work early he calls to find out where I am and joins me. For those of you who have not tried, Geocaching is an international treasure hunt and is great fun. Go and check it out at www.geocaching.com. The most we have done is 10 in one day. It takes us to places we may not have discovered or explored.

 

It only occurred to me when wandering around alone yesterday, the difference between here and other places we have been. Although naturally “aware” of my surroundings there is no “on guard” feeling. I feel completely comfortable and safe. I take any road, path or trail that takes my fancy without having to first stop and consider how vulnerable I am or what kind of area I am entering. Following my GPS co-ordinates to a cache instead of my map; I have been “lost” on a number of occasions finding myself further than I had planned on a totally different trail having accidentally taken a path joining two trails. J

 

There are over 100 km of networked walks; the Grand Concourse trail connects rivers, ponds, lakes and parks in three municipalities, with over 70 storyboards en route.

 

The other “security issue” that amazes me is people have garden furniture including cushions, bicycles, fancy planters (big enough to carry off) statuettes and all sorts of things in their gardens and / or on their stoep that aren’t even chained down. I walk past houses with doors and windows standing wide open and no one in sight no burglar bars or security gates or anything.

 

The Newfie’s have imagination and a sense of humour when naming their businesses. I have spotted a Massage Therapists rooms called “Body Kneads”. A Bra shop called “The Booby Trap”. A chain of cigarette stores called “Holy Smokes”. A pre-school called FUNdamentals! J I can’t remember all that have made me smile or laugh!

 

 

 

The other thing I have noticed is how conscientious the drivers are to pedestrians. It’s actually embarrassing! You want to cross the road and walk to the edge of the pavement and the damn cars stop!!! In the beginning you like “Who me?” They stop whole line of cars behind them they even have done it for me on the highway when I was geocaching and came off a trail on the side of the highway and the cache was on the other side. So I walked to the edge planning on jay walking when the cars had passed! Lo and behold they stop! A whole string of cars behind them and sit patiently while it registers that they are waiting for me and I am sure blushing scarlet, I run across the road.. lol

 

Our “home” for the next few months

 

 

 

 

St. John’s houses

 

 

 

Before they are “dressed”

 

 

 

 Geocaching sights. in and around St John’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loved this little house at the start of the Signal Hill trail. Tucked into the rock!

 

 

On Signal Hill trail,

 

At the top pf Signal Hill. The first ever transatlantic radio signal was sent from this building.

 

View of St John’s

 

Harbour entrance

 

 

 

 

 

Climbed under this bridge to get a cache.

 

 

 

 

St Patrick’s monastery (above) and his statue

 

 

Isn’t St John’s pretty! Flowers everywhere.

 

The Newfoundland dog and the Labrador originate here.